Stackable non-volatile resistive switching memory device and method

ABSTRACT

A memory device includes a first plurality of memory cells arranged in a first crossbar array, a first thickness of dielectric material overlying the first plurality of memory cells, and a second plurality of memory cells arranged in a second crossbar array overlying the first thickness of dielectric material. The memory device further includes a second thickness of dielectric material overlying the second plurality of memory cells. In a specific embodiment, the memory device further includes a Nth thickness of dielectric material overlying an Nth plurality of memory cells, where N is an integer ranging from 3 to 8.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application incorporates by reference and claims priority to the following pending patent application: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/861,650, filed Aug. 23, 2010.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is generally related to resistive switching devices. More particularly, embodiments according to the present invention provide a method and a structure for forming a stacked or vertically stacked resistive switching device. The present invention can be applied to non-volatile memory devices but it should be recognized that the present invention can have a much broader range of applicability

The success of semiconductor devices has been mainly driven by an intensive transistor down-scaling process. However, as field effect transistors (FET) approach sizes less than 100 nm, problems such as the short channel effect degrade device performance. Moreover, such sub 100 nm device size can lead to sub-threshold slope non-scaling and also increases power dissipation. It is generally believed that transistor-based memories such as those commonly known as Flash may approach an end to scaling within a decade. Flash memory is one type of non-volatile memory device.

Other non-volatile random access memory (RAM) devices such as ferroelectric RAM (Fe RAM), magneto-resistive RAM (MRAM), organic RAM (ORAM), and phase change RAM (PCRAM), among others, have been explored as next generation memory devices. These devices often require new materials and device structures to couple with silicon-based devices to form a memory cell, which lack one or more key attributes. For example, Fe-RAM and MRAM devices have fast switching characteristics and good programming endurance, but their fabrication is not CMOS compatible and size is usually large. Switching for a PCRAM device requires large amounts of power. Organic RAM or ORAM is incompatible with large volume silicon-based fabrication and device reliability is usually poor.

From the above, a new semiconductor device structure and integration is desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to resistive switching devices. More particularly, embodiments according to the present invention provide a method and a structure for forming a stacked or vertically stacked resistive switching device. The present invention can be applied to non-volatile memory devices but it should be recognized that the present invention can have a much broader range of applicability

In a specific embodiment, a method of forming a vertically-stacked memory device is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a surface region. A first dielectric material is formed overlying the surface region of the semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a first plurality of memory cells overlying the first dielectric material. In a specific embodiment, each of the first plurality of memory cells including at least a first top metal wiring structure spatially extending in a first direction, a first bottom wiring structure spatially extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first top metal wiring structure, a first switching element sandwiched between an intersection region of the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure. In a specific embodiment, the method includes forming a thickness of second dielectric material overlying the first plurality of memory cells including the top wiring structures. In a specific embodiment, the method forms a second plurality of memory cells overlying the second dielectric material, each of the second plurality of memory cells comprising at least a second top metal wiring structure extending in the first direction, and a second bottom wiring structure arranged spatially orthogonal to the second top metal wiring structure, and a second switching element sandwiched between the second top wiring structure and the second bottom wiring structure. More pluralities of memory cells may be formed above these two layers. As used herein, the term “vertical or vertically” is not in reference to gravity but in reference to a major plane of a substrate structure or the like.

In a specific embodiment, a memory device is provided. The memory device includes a first plurality of memory cells arranged in a first crossbar array. A first thickness of dielectric material overlies the first plurality of memory cells, and a second plurality of memory cells arranged in a second crossbar array overly the first thickness of dielectric material. In certain embodiment, the memory device can include three to eight layers of cell array. Each of the cell array is separated from a next using a thickness of dielectric material in a specific embodiment.

Many benefits can be achieved by ways of the present invention. For example, the present method forms a vertically stacked memory device to provide for a high density device structure using existing CMOS processing equipment and techniques. In certain embodiments, the present method provides arrays of interconnected memory cells with diode steering elements to decrease die size and enhance memory cell performance. Depending on the embodiment, one or more of these benefits may be achieved. One skilled in the art would recognize other variations, modifications, and alternatives.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-16 are simplified diagram illustrating a method of forming a resistive switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention

FIGS. 17-18 are simplified diagram illustrating a method of forming a vertically stacked memory device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to resistive switching devices. More particularly, embodiments according to the present invention provide a method and a structure for forming a vertically stacked resistive switching device. The present invention can be applied to non-volatile memory devices but it should be recognized that the present invention can have a much broader range of applicability

The memory function of current non volatile memory devices are based on charges trapped in a dielectric material or a silicon floating gate. However, scaling of such charge-trap based materials is limited. For example, floating gate devices such as NOR or NAND devices have feature sizes of approximately 10 F² and 4.5 F², respectively, where F is the smallest feature size. Embodiments according to the present invention provide a method to form a non-volatile resistive switching device in layers which can be vertically stacked on top of one another to increase device density and to achieve an effective cell size of less than 4 F². Additionally, fabrication of the memory device is fully compatible with current CMOS processes.

FIGS. 1-16 illustrate a method of fabricating a resistive switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes providing a substrate 102 including a surface region 104. The substrate can be a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon wafer and the like. In certain embodiments, the substrate can include one or more devices formed thereon. The one or more devices can include transistor devices or others, depending on the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the method includes forming a first dielectric material 202 overlying the surface region of the substrate. The first dielectric material can be a silicon oxide or a silicon nitride or a suitable dielectric film stack including a combination of different dielectric films. The first dielectric material can be formed using techniques such as chemical vapor deposition, spin on coating, including a combination of these techniques, and others.

Referring to FIG. 3, the method deposits a first adhesion layer 302 overlying the first dielectric material. The first adhesion layer can be titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum, tantalum nitride, or tungsten nitride, or any combinations of these material, and others. The first adhesion layer may be formed using physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, or atomic layer deposition, and the like. In other applications, physical deposition such as sputtering may be used depending on the application. As shown in FIG. 4, a bottom wiring material 402 is formed overlying the first adhesion layer. The bottom wiring structure material can be aluminum, tungsten, copper, or other suitable metal materials depending on the embodiment. The bottom wiring material can be deposited using techniques such as physical vapor deposition, evaporation, chemical vapor deposition, electrochemical methods such as electroplating or electrode-less deposition from a liquid medium, or other suitable deposition techniques including a combination. The first adhesion layer provides a glue layer for the first wiring material and the first dielectric material in a specific embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the method of forming the switching device includes depositing a second adhesion layer 502 overlying the bottom wiring structure material. The second adhesion layer can also be a barrier layer or a blocking layer to prevent chemical reaction of the bottom wiring structure material with, for example, a switching layer material subsequently formed. The second adhesion layer can be titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum, tantalum nitride, tungsten, tungsten nitride, or others, depending on the embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the method includes forming a doped semiconductor material 802 overlying the second adhesion layer in a specific embodiment. The doped semiconductor material can be doped polycrystalline silicon, hereafter referred to as polysilicon material in a specific embodiment. The polysilicon material is used as a contact material between the bottom wiring material and an amorphous silicon switching material in a specific embodiment. In a preferred embodiment, the doped polysilicon material is p⁺ doped, using impurity such as boron and the like. In a specific embodiment, the boron has a concentration ranging from about 1E18 to 1E21 cm⁻³. The p+ polycrystalline silicon material can be deposited using a chemical deposition method or a physical deposition method depending on the embodiment. The chemical deposition method can include a chemical vapor deposition process using silane, disilane, a suitable chlorosilane, or any suitable silicon-containing gas as a precursor, and any suitable gas containing a p+ dopant for silicon, such as diborane, B₂H₆. In a specific embodiment, the p+ polycrystalline silicon material may be deposited using a plasma-assisted chemical deposition method. Deposition temperature for the p+ silicon material can range from about 200 Degree Celsius to about 500 Degree Celsius and preferably at about 400 Degree Celsius to about 450 Degree Celsius. In certain embodiments, the polysilicon material may be further processed to enhance the performance of the switching device. For example, defects or nano metal material may be formed in a surface region of the doped polysilicon material to enhance the performance of the switching device. In a specific embodiment, the polysilicon material allows for controlling and improving switching properties of the amorphous silicon switching material. For other switching materials, such as metal oxide, or others, other contact material may be used, or the contact layer may not be needed. Of course, one skilled in the art would recognize other variations, modifications, and alternatives.

In a specific embodiment, the method forms a switching material 702 overlying the contact material as shown in FIG. 7. The switching material can be an undoped amorphous silicon material having an intrinsic semiconductor characteristic. The undoped amorphous silicon material can be deposited using a chemical deposition method or a physical deposition method depending on the embodiment. The chemical deposition method can include a chemical vapor deposition process using silane, disilane, a suitable chlorosilane, or any suitable silicon-containing gas as a precursor. In a specific embodiment, the undoped amorphous silicon material may be deposited using a plasma-assisted chemical deposition method. Deposition temperature for the amorphous silicon material can range from about 1500 Degree Celsius to about 450 Degree Celsius and preferably at about 350 Degree Celsius to about 400 Degree Celsius. Depending on the embodiment, the amorphous silicon material can be provided at a thickness ranging from about 50 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms. In a preferred embodiment, the amorphous silicon material is provided at a thickness ranging from about 200 Angstroms to about 700 Angstroms.

Referring to FIG. 8, the method includes forming a mask 802 overlying the switching material. The masking layer can be a suitable organic photoresist material, or an inorganic hard mask, or a combination of the two, depending on the embodiment. The hard mask can be formed from a dielectric material such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride, or others depending on the application. The hard mask may also be a metal or dielectric hard mask depending on the embodiment.

In a specific embodiment, the method subjects the switching material, the contact material, and the bottom wiring structure material to a first etching process using the masking layer as a mask to form a first structure 902 as shown in FIG. 9. The first etching process selectively removes a portion of the first dielectric material exposing a top surface region 908 of the first dielectric material. The first structure includes at least a bottom wiring structure 904, and a switching element 906 in a specific embodiment. The switching element includes at least a first side region 910. Depending on the hard mask used, any remaining portion of the hard mask after etching may be removed. Alternatively, the remaining hard mask after etch may be left intact if it is a dielectric.

Referring to FIG. 10, the method includes depositing a second dielectric layer overlying the first structure and exposed portion of the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer can include a silicon oxide material or silicon nitride material or a combination depending on the embodiment, or any suitable dielectric material depending on the application. In a specific embodiment, the second dielectric layer can be silicon oxide deposited using a high density plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process, commonly known as HDP, using silane and oxygen as precursors. The silicon dioxide may also be deposited by a plasma enhanced deposition process (PECVD) using tetramethlyoxsilicate, commonly known as TEOS. The silicon oxide material may also be formed using a spin on coating technique followed by a suitable curing process. Or a combination of coating and chemical deposition may also be used depending on the application.

In a specific embodiment, the method employs a planarizing process to form a planarized dielectric surface 1102 as illustrated in FIG. 11. This may be accomplished by a chemical mechanical polishing process, or a non isotropic chemical etch, for example, a blanket etch of the second dielectric material in a specific embodiment. As shown, a portion 1104 of the second dielectric material is maintained overlying a top region of the switching element in a specific embodiment. In a specific embodiment, the method includes forming a first opening region 1202 in a portion of the second dielectric material to expose a portion of the top region of the switching element as shown in FIG. 12. The first opening region is formed by using a second patterning and etching process in a specific embodiment. The first opening region has a first dimension in a specific embodiment. For example for silicon dioxide as the dielectric material, the etching process may be a dry etch, such as a fluorine-based etching using CF₄, SF₆, or NF₃, as the etching gas. A suitable wet etching technique, such as a HF-based etching may also be used depending on the embodiment. Alternatively, laser ablation may be used to selectively remove the silicon oxide material overlying the switching material to form the first opening region.

In a specific embodiment, the method includes forming a third dielectric material 1302 overlying the second dielectric layer including the first opening region as shown in FIG. 13. As shown, the third dielectric material is conformably formed overlying the second dielectric layer and the first opening region in a specific embodiment. The third dielectric material can be silicon nitride in a specific embodiment. Other suitable dielectric materials such as silicon oxide or a dielectric stack (for example, a silicon oxide on silicon nitride on silicon oxide stack, commonly known as ONO) may also be used depending on the embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 14, the method subjects the third dielectric material to a nonconformal or an anisotropic etching process to remove a portion of the third dielectric material to form a second opening region 1402. As shown, the anisotropic etching process forms a side wall structure 1404 overlying the side region of the first opening region and a bottom region. The bottom region includes an exposed portion of the switching material in a specific embodiment. This etch is commonly used in semiconductor processing, and is known as a “sidewall spacer” etch. The exposed portion has a second dimension, which is less than the first dimension.

Referring to FIG. 15, the method forms a conductive material 1502 overlying at least the bottom region and the side wall structure. The conductive material can substantially fills the second opening region and in contact with the switching material in a specific embodiment. Alternatively, the conductive material can be conformably formed overlying the second opening region including the bottom region and the side wall structure depending on the deposition conditions. The conductive material is in contact with the switching element, as shown. In a specific embodiment, for an amorphous silicon switching material, the conductive material can be a silver material. The silver material can be deposited using a physical deposition process such as sputtering or evaporation. The silver material may also be formed using a chemical deposition process such as chemical vapor deposition, electrochemical such as electroplating or electroless plating, or a combination depending on the application.

In a specific embodiment, the method includes forming a top barrier material 1602 overlying at least the conductive material and a top wiring material 1604 overlying the top barrier material as illustrated in FIG. 16 in a specific embodiment. The top barrier material can be a top adhesion material in a specific embodiment. The top barrier material can be titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum or tantalum nitride, tungsten, or tungsten nitride, or any suitable barrier material depending on the embodiment. Depending on the application, top barrier layer 1602 can be formed using a chemical deposition such as atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, and others, or a physical deposition such as sputtering, depending on the application. Top barrier material 1602 can protect the conductive material, for example, the silver material from oxidation in a specific embodiment. Top barrier material can also be a diffusion barrier between the conductive material and the top wiring material in a specific embodiment.

Again, depending on the embodiment, the top wiring material can be aluminum, tungsten, copper, or others. The top wiring structure material may be deposited using techniques such as physical vapor deposition process, for example, sputtering, evaporation, and others. The top wiring material may also be deposited using chemical deposition such as chemical vapor deposition, electrochemically including electroplating and electrodeless deposition depending on the embodiment.

In a specific embodiment, the method subjects a stack of material comprising the top wiring material, the top barrier material, and the contact material to a third pattern and etch process to from a top wiring structure. In a specific embodiment, the conductive material is in contact with the switching element. The top wiring structure is configured spatially at an angle to the bottom wiring structure to form a cross bar structure in a specific embodiment. In a specific embodiment, the top wiring structure is configured spatially orthogonal to the bottom wiring structure. The switching element is disposed in an intersection region of the top electrode structure and the bottom electrode structure. As merely an example, for a switching device using an amorphous silicon material as the switching material, the stack of material can comprise of aluminum, titanium nitride, and silver, while silver is in contact with the amorphous silicon material. Of course on skilled in the art would recognize other variations, modifications, and alternatives.

The above sequence of steps provides a method of forming a first array of memory cells for a vertically stacked device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method forms a fourth dielectric material 1702 overlying the top wiring structure of first array of memory cells. The fourth dielectric material 1702 further fills in any gaps between the top interconnect wires. As shown, two memory cells are illustrated in the first array of memory cells. The first array of memory cells can have an X by Y array arranged in a crossbar configuration, where X and Y are integers and X>1, and Y>1. In a specific embodiment, fourth dielectric material 1702 can be silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or a dielectric stack with alternating dielectric materials, depending on the application. As shown, fourth dielectric material 1702 forms a thickness 1704 overlying the first array of memory cells. In a specific embodiment, the fourth dielectric material is subjected to a planarizing process to form a planarized surface region.

The method forms a second array of memory cells overlying the planarized fourth dielectric material as shown in FIG. 18. The second array of memory cells includes a plurality of memory cells. Each of the plurality of memory cells includes at least a second top electrode, a second bottom electrode, and a switching element sandwiched between the second top electrode and the second bottom electrode in a specific embodiment. The second top electrode extends in a direction parallel to the first top electrode in a specific embodiment. In a specific embodiment, the second bottom electrode and the second top electrode are spatially arranged at an angle, and preferably orthogonal to each other in a crossbar configuration. The method than repeats the above steps of forming a memory array and dielectric material stack to form a vertically stacked memory device. For example, a four layers of memory cell array result in an effective memory cell size of 1 F², where F is the feature size of a memory cell. In certain embodiment, each of the memory cells in an array can have an incipient diode to prevent program and read disturbs when selecting a device in an interconnecting array. In contrast to conventional configuration, the CMOS circuitry for programming the memory devices is beneath the layers of memory cell arrays. Therefore, the CMOS devices do not occupy additional area on the substrate. Vertical stacking as illustrated in FIG. 8 allows for a high density device and a small die size.

Referring again to FIG. 17. Depending on the embodiment, the method can form a plurality of via structures 1706 in a portion of the first dielectric material to connect the first array of memory cells with respective read, write, or erase circuitry provided by respective transistor devices on the semiconductor substrate. Via structure 1706 may connect the first top wiring structure or the first bottom wiring layer. In FIG. 17, the via structure connects to the first top wire layer. The via structure can be formed using a pattern and etch process to form an interconnect structure. In a specific embodiment, the method includes depositing an adhesion layer conformally formed overlying the via opening and an interconnect metal material overlying the adhesion layer to fill the plurality of via openings. The adhesion layer can be titanium, titanium nitride or tungsten nitride depending on the embodiment. The interconnect metal material can be tungsten, aluminum, copper or other suitable material. A metal planarizing process may be performed to remove the metal interconnect material from the dielectric surface in a specific embodiment. Alternatively, the via may be filled and metal deposited on top of the oxide 1704. This metal may be patterned and etched to form the bottom wire layer for the next layer of memory array. As shown, the via structure can be formed in an end region of each of the top wiring structure or the bottom wiring structure.

Though the present invention has been described using various examples and embodiments, it is also understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or alternatives in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A memory device, comprising: a first plurality of memory cells arranged in a first crossbar array; a first thickness of dielectric material overlying the first plurality of memory cells; and a second plurality of memory cells arranged in a second crossbar array overlying the first thickness of dielectric material.
 2. The memory device of claim 1 further comprises a second thickness of dielectric material overlying the second plurality of memory cells.
 3. The memory device of claim 1 further comprises a Nth thickness of dielectric material overlying the Nth plurality of memory cells, where N is an integer ranging from 3 to
 8. 